LeBreton Flats reset 'unacceptable,' Devcore head says

A Gatineaudeveloper who took part in the ill-fated procurementto redevelop LeBreton Flats maintains theprocess unfolded in anunfair way, and its demise means the capital has missed an important chance to create a landmark in itsdowntown.

The National Capital Commission announcedThursday yet anotherreset for the property, putting forward a newplan to carveup the 22.7-hectare site and develop it as separate districts with or without a major anchor attraction like a downtown arena.

"It's extremely disappointing. I believe, personally, it's unfair," said Jean-Pierre Poulin, president of Devcore.

Poulinsaid he was speaking for himself and not on behalf of theother membersDCDLS, with whom he put forward a high-profile but unsuccessful bid to redevelop LeBreton Flats three years ago.

• NCC to develop LeBreton Flats in stages
• Ottawans cautiously optimistic about LeBreton Flats reset
• CBC Ottawa's coverage of theLeBretonFlats redevelopment

Poulinsaid the new districts now envisioned by the NCC would mean the site develops in a piecemeal way, missing out on thechance tomake Ottawa a desirable destination for tourists from around the world.

"It doesn't make any sense to me. It's not just sour grapes," said Poulin. "It's just a sad outcome, not just for us but for the city of Ottawa and Canada in general."

Devcore maintains 'irregularities' in process

Poulinbelieves the NCC had the right idea in 2015 when it launched arequest for proposals that describedcreatinga "capital landmark" of "national significance," one that would have generated experiences for the public that were "primarily non-residential."

The DCDLSbid was inspired byMillenniumPark in Chicago and the High Line in New York City, he said.

The original winning proposal put forward by Eugene Melnyk and John Ruddy of Rendezvous LeBreton included a new arena for the Ottawa Senators and more than 4,000 housing units.

DCDLS, meanwhile, proposedhalf as muchhousing, a linear park, an aquarium and variety of museums including anautomotive museum that proved unpopular with the public.

Immediately afterRendezvous LeBreton came out on top in April 2016,DCDLSsent the NCC a letter raisingconcerns that theprocess did not lead to a selectionthat met its stated criteria.

"There was a lot of irregularities and there was change during the course of this process. Andwe tried to notify the NCC. We sent multiple letters. They never got back to us not even a phone call,"Poulinmaintained Friday.

In December 2018, DCDLS said the NCC had an obligation to turn to it afterthe partnershipbetween Ruddy and Melnykdeteriorated in sensational lawsuits.

Putting a white blanket over itand just calling this processdead is not acceptable.- Devcore president Jean-Pierre Poulin

The NCC clarified to CBC News that its board decided nearly one year agoto negotiate exclusively with Rendezvous LeBreton and would no longer consider the DCDLS proposal.

Process was fair, NCC says

The NCC also pointed out Friday it had hired an external fairness monitor to oversee the entireprocess.

It officially ended the2015 procurement on March 1, but the NCC will allow the players who took part in it to bid again for the right to bid again when the NCC puts sections of LeBreton Flats out to tender in the years to come.

Poulindoesn't believe he'llever be able to recreate the calibre of team and proposal that DCDLS submitted back then not that he necessarily wants to, after his experience with the NCC.

"Putting a white blanket over itand just calling [the original] processdead is not acceptable," saidPoulin, adding he was considering his options.

Poulin said he nowhopes to raise theseissues at a meeting his team has scheduled with Tobi Nussbaum, the NCC's new CEO.